Detachable fins and fin assemblies for watersport boards

ABSTRACT

Tool-less detachable fins and fin assemblies for watersport boards (e.g, surfboards, wake boards, windsurfing boards, kite boards, stand-up paddle boards and the like) are disclosed. Some embodiments are directed toward detachable fin assemblies which include a fin having a mounting tang defining at least one detent recess in an edge thereof, and a fin box defining an elongate mounting channel for receiving the mounting tang of the fin. The fin box includes at least one spring-biased ball detent assembly having a ball detent positioned so as to engage the at least one detent recess when the mounting tang is positioned within the mounting channel to thereby removably fix the fin to the fin box. The fin box may include at least one threaded aperture for receiving a ball detent assembly therein.

FIELD

The embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to detachable fins and fin assemblies allowing such removability that are especially adapted for use with watersport boards.

BACKGROUND

As is well known, a variety of watersport boards (e.g., surfboards, wake boards, windsurfing boards, kite boards, stand-up paddle boards and the like) are provided with one or more fins to allow the surfer to exert directional control to the board in use. In order to facilitate optimum directional control, it may therefore be desirable for the wastersport enthusiast to periodically exchange fins to allow the selection of specific fin designs. For example, a surfer may want to tailor the surfboard's performance and feel to the surfer's preference, ability and/or surf conditions being encountered.

Detachable watersport board fins and fin assemblies which allow the fins to be removed and readily replaced are well known. For example, detachable fins which are secured to the fin box by means of a grub screw have been proposed, such as the system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,464,359 (the entire content of which is expressly incorporated hereinto by reference). Such set-screw dependent fin systems however necessarily depend on a suitable tool which may not always be readily accessible to the surfer in order to allow extraction and insertion of the screw relative to the fin. More recently, however, tool-less detachable fins which rely on spring-biased ball detent assemblies have been proposed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,282,434 and 8,393,928, the entire contents of which are expressly incorporated hereinto by reference.

While such prior detachable fins and fin systems are entirely adequate for their intended purpose, further developments and improvements are continually sought, particularly in terms of universality and ease of use. It is towards providing such improvements to tool-less detachable surfboard fins and fin systems that the embodiments disclosed herein are directed.

SUMMARY

In general, the embodiments disclosed herein are directed toward tool-less detachable fins and fin assemblies for watersport boards. Some embodiments disclosed herein are directed toward detachable fin assemblies comprised of a fin having a mounting tang defining at least one detent recess in an edge thereof, and a fin box defining an elongate mounting channel for receiving the mounting tang of the fin. The fin box comprises at least one spring-biased ball detent assembly having a ball detent positioned so as to engage the at least one detent recess when the mounting tang is positioned within the mounting channel to thereby removably fix the fin to the fin box. The fin box may include at least one threaded aperture for receiving a ball detent assembly therein.

According to certain embodiments, the fin may comprise forward and rearward mounting tangs, and a central mounting tang positioned between the forward and rearward mounting tangs. The central mounting tang has a lower edge which defines the at least one detent recess. The at least one detent recess may be asymmetrically positioned along the lower edge of the central mounting tang so as to be closer dimension relative to the forward mounting tang as compared to the rearward mounting tang.

Some embodiments of the fin box may include a generally centrally located ball detent assembly which upwardly extends from a bottom surface of the mounting channel. The central forward, rearward and central mounting tangs in such an embodiment may therefore define a generally inverted U-shaped space to accommodate the upwardly extending ball detent assembly.

The mounting tang of the fin may include outwardly protruding mounting lugs, e.g., forward and rearward pairs of mounting lugs, with the fin box including corresponding registered L-shaped slots, e.g., forward and rearward pairs of L-shaped slots, for receiving a respective one of the mounting lugs therein. The forward and rearward mounting lugs may be provided on the forward and rearward mounting tangs of the fin.

According to some embodiments, a detachable fin is provided which includes a mounting tang having forward and rearward edges which respectively define forward and rearward detent recesses. The forward and rearward detent recesses may be vertically off-set relative to one another, e.g., such that the forward detent recess is at a lower position as compared to the rearward detent recess.

These and other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more clear after careful consideration is given to the following detailed description of the preferred exemplary embodiments thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The disclosed embodiments of the present invention will be better and more completely understood by referring to the following detailed description of exemplary non-limiting illustrative embodiments in conjunction with the drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a bottom perspective view of an exemplary watersport board, e.g., a surfboard, which includes multiple fin assemblies with detachable fins according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of a representative fin assembly and detachable fin thereof;

FIG. 3 is a enlarged assembled perspective view of the fin assembly and fin as depicted in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the fin assembly shown in FIG. 2 as taken along line 4-4 therein;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the fin assembly shown in FIG. 3 as taken along line 5-5 therein;

FIGS. 6-8 are partial cross-sectional elevational views showing the sequential installation of a detachable fin relative to the associated fin box according to the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 2-5;

FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of a detachable fin according to the invention;

FIG. 10 shows another embodiment of a fin box according to the invention assembled with the detachable fin embodiment depicted in FIG. 9;

FIGS. 11 and 12 are partial cross-sectional views showing other respective fin box embodiments assembled with the detachable fin embodiment of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 13 is a top plan view showing another embodiment of a fin box that may be employed with the detachable fin embodiment of FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments herein will be described in reference to a surfboard. However, it is to be understood that such a description is merely exemplary of other possible end use watersport board applications, e.g., wake boards, windsurfing boards, kite boards, stand-up paddle boards and the like)

As is seen in FIG. 1, a surfboard SB may be provided with multiple fin assemblies 10 comprised of a detachable fin 12 received within a cooperating fin box 14. As is perhaps better depicted in the enlarged views of FIGS. 2-5, each fin box 14 is provided with a mounting flange 16 to allow the fin box to be immovably fixed (e.g., by glue, screws or other attachment means) to the undersurface of the surfboard SB.

The fin box 14 includes a raised base block 18 with a central elongate recessed receiver channel 20 aligned substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis A_(L) of the surfboard SB (see FIGS. 1 and 2). The opposed sides of the channel 20 includes forward and rearward opposed pairs of recessed L-shaped slots 22, 24, respectively. Each of the slots 22, 24 is adapted to receive a corresponding one of the forward and rearward lugs 26, 28 (it being understood that only one of the lugs 26, 28 of each pair thereof being visible in the depictions of FIGS. 2-5) which are correspondingly projecting outwardly from the forward and rearward fin mounting tangs 30, 32, respectively.

A central mounting tang 34 spans the longitudinal distance between the forward and rearward mounting tangs 30, 32. As can be seen, the depth of the central mounting tang 34 is less than the depth of the forward and rearward mounting tangs 30, 32, respectively, so as to establish a generally inverted U-shaped space 36. A detent recess 38 is formed in the bottom edge of the central mounting tang 34. The detent recess 38 is moreover asymmetrically positioned closer to the forward mounting tang 30 as compared to the rearward mounting tang 32 relative to a mid-plane of the tang 34 transverse to the longitudinal axis A_(L) for the purpose to be discussed below.

The fin box 14 is provided with a mounting insert 40 that is received in the longitudinal channel 20 and positioned adjacent the bottom wall 20-1 thereof. The mounting insert 40 includes a spring-biased detent assembly 42 having a central boss 44 extending upwardly from the bottom surface 20-1 of the channel 20. The central boss 44 provides a housing defining a space to retain a ball detent 46 and a compression spring 48.

The compression spring 48 acts on the ball detent 46 so as to urge the same in an upward direction yet allow the ball to be yieldably pushed into the central boss 44 against the bias force of the spring. Thus, with particular reference to FIGS. 6-8, as each of the forward and rearward lugs 26, 28 is received within a respective vertical leg of the L-shaped slots 22, 24, the mounting tangs 30, 32 are permitted to be received within the channel 20. At such a time, therefore, the ball detent 46 will be engaged with the bottom edge of the central mounting tang 34 rearwardly of the detent recess 38 thereby causing the ball detent 46 to be depressed within the boss 44 against the bias force of the spring 48. Thereafter, sliding movement of the fin 12 in a rearward direction will cause the lugs 26, 28 to travel within a respective horizontal leg of the L-shaped slots 22, 24 until the final position of the fin 12 is achieved. At such time, the ball detent 46 will be aligned with the detent recess 38 which causes the former to be urged into the latter by virtue of the bias force of the spring 48. In such a manner, a reliable engagement between the ball detent assembly 42 and the fin 12 will be achieved thereby removably positioning the latter within the fin box 14.

Removal of the fin 12 occurs in a manner opposite to that described immediately above. That is, exerting sufficient force in a forward direction against the fin 12 will urge the ball detent 46 out of engagement with the detent recess 38 thereby allowing the fin 12 to be removed from the fin box 14. If desired, grub screws (not shown) may optionally be thereadably inserted into cooperative threaded openings 50 formed in the base block 18 of the fin box 14. Alternatively or additionally, the threaded openings may receive a respective threaded ball detent assembly as described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,393,928. However, in most circumstances, the ball detent assembly 42 provides sufficient retention force to removably lock the fin 12 positionally within the fin box 14.

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of an alternative detachable fin 12′ that may be universally received within several fin boxes 14 a-14 d depicted schematically in FIGS. 10-13, respectively. In this regard, it will be observed that the fin 12′ includes a mounting tang 60 which extends substantially the entirety of the longitudinal dimension of the fin 12′. The mounting tang 60 is provided with forward and rearward detent recesses 62, 64 in the forward and rearward edges 60-1, 60-2 of the mounting tang 60, respectively. As can be seen in FIG. 9, the forward and rearward detent recesses 62, 64 are vertically off-set relative to one another and with respect to a horizontal plane such that the former is at a lower position relative to the latter.

The fin 12′ as shown in FIG. 9 may be universally accepted for detachable mounting to various embodiments of fin boxes 14 a-14 d as shown in FIGS. 10-13. In this regard, the fin box 14 a shown in FIG. 10 may be provided with a forward ball detent assembly 70 including a ball detent 72 and a compression spring 74 and a rearward mounding rod 76 positioned transverse (relative to the longitudinal axis A_(L) of the surfboard SB) within the mounting channel 78. The ball detent 72 cooperates with the forward detent recess 62 whereas the mounting rod 76 is received within the rearward detent recess 64.

Conversely as shown in FIG. 11, the fin box 14 b may be provided with a rearward ball detent assembly 80 including a ball detent 82 and a compression spring 84 and a forward mounding rod 86 positioned transverse (relative to the longitudinal axis A_(L) of the surfboard SB) within the mounting channel 88. The ball detent 82 cooperates with the rearward detent recess 64 whereas the mounting rod 76 is received within the forward detent recess 62.

The fin box 14 c depicted in FIG. 12 includes both forward and rearward ball detent assemblies 90, 92, each comprised of a ball detent 90-1, 92-1 and compression spring 90-2, 92-2 which cooperate with the forward and rearward detent recesses 62, 64, respectively.

FIG. 13 depicts an embodiment of the fin box 14 d which includes a forward transverse mounting rod 100 which is received within the forward detent recess 62 and an opposed pair of ball detent assemblies 102, 104 each having a ball detent 102-1, 104-1 and compression spring 102-2, 104-2, respectively. Unlike the longitudinally aligned ball detent assemblies 70, 80, 90 and 92 (relative to the longitudinal axis A_(L) of the surfboard SB) associated with the fin boxes 14 a, 14 b and 14 c, respectively, the opposed ball detent assemblies 102, 104 are aligned transversely relative to the longitudinal axis A_(L) of the surfboard SB.

The invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope thereof. 

1. A detachable fin assembly comprising: a fin having at least one mounting tang and an edge that has at least one detent recess; and a fin box defining an elongate mounting channel for receiving the mounting tang of the fin, wherein the fin box comprises at least one spring-biased detent assembly adapted to engage the at least one detent recess when the mounting tang is positioned within the mounting channel to thereby removably fix the fin to the fin box.
 2. The detachable fin assembly of claim 1, wherein the mounting tang is a central mounting tang having a lower edge that defines the at least one detent recess, and wherein the fin further comprises forward and rearward mounting tangs, the central mounting tang being positioned between the forward and rearward mounting tangs.
 3. The detachable fin assembly of claim 2, wherein the at least one detent recess is asymmetrically positioned along the lower edge of the central mounting tang to be closer to the forward mounting tang than the rearward mounting tang.
 4. The detachable fin assembly of claim 2, wherein the detent assembly extends upwardly from a bottom surface of the mounting channel, and wherein the forward, central, and rearward mounting tangs substantially define an inverted U-shaped space to accommodate the upwardly extending detent assembly.
 5. The detachable fin assembly of claim 1, wherein the mounting tang of the fin comprises one or more outwardly protruding mounting lugs, and wherein the fin box includes one or more nonstraight slots for receiving the respective mounting lugs therein.
 6. The detachable fin assembly of claim 5, wherein the fin comprises forward and rearward opposed pairs of the mounting lugs, and wherein the fin box comprises forward and rearward opposed pairs of the slots for receiving the respective mounting lugs therein.
 7. The detachable fin assembly of claim 6, wherein the mounting tang is a central mounting tang and the edge is a lower edge that defines the at least one detent recess, and wherein the fin further comprises forward and rearward mounting tangs, the central mounting tang being positioned between the forward and rearward mounting tangs.
 8. The detachable fin assembly of claim 7, wherein the at least one detent recess is asymmetrically positioned along the lower edge of the central mounting tang to be closer to the forward mounting tang than the rearward mounting tang.
 9. The detachable fin assembly as in claim 7, wherein the detent assembly extends upwardly from a bottom surface of the mounting channel, and wherein the forward, central, and rearward mounting tangs substantially define an inverted U-shaped space to accommodate the upwardly extending detent assembly.
 10. The detachable fin assembly of claim 1, wherein the fin box comprises at least one threaded aperture for receiving a detent assembly therein.
 11. The detachable fin assembly of claim 1, wherein the mounting tang has forward and rearward detent recesses in forward and rearward edges, respectively, of the mounting tang.
 12. The detachable fin assembly of claim 11, wherein the forward and rearward detent recesses are vertically off-set relative to each other.
 13. The detachable fin assembly of claim 12, wherein the forward detent recess is at a lower position than the rearward detent recess.
 14. The detachable fin assembly of claim 11, wherein the fin box further comprises a forward detent assembly for engagement with the forward detent recess, and a rearward mounting rod for engagement with the rearward detent recess.
 15. The detachable fin assembly of claim 11, wherein the fin box further comprises a rearward ball detent assembly for engagement with the rearward detent recess, and a forward mounting rod for engagement with the forward detent recess.
 16. The detachable fin assembly of claim 11, wherein the fin box comprises longitudinally opposed forward and rearward detent assemblies for engagement with the forward and rearward detent recesses, respectively.
 17. The detachable fin assembly of claim 11, wherein the fin box comprises a transverse mounting rod for engagement with one of the forward and rearward detent recesses, and a transversely opposed pair of spring-biased detent assemblies for engagement with the other of the forward and rearward detent recesses.
 18. A detachable fin comprising a mounting tang and an edge that has at least one detent recess.
 19. The detachable fin of claim 18, wherein the mounting tang comprises at least one of forward and rearward opposed pairs of outwardly protruding mounting lugs.
 20. The detachable fin of claim 18, wherein the mounting tang is a central mounting tang and the edge is a lower edge that defines the at least one detent recess, and wherein the fin further comprises forward and rearward mounting tangs, the central mounting tang positioned between the forward and rearward mounting tangs.
 21. The detachable fin assembly of claim 20, wherein the at least one detent recess is asymmetrically positioned along the lower edge of the central mounting tang to be closer to the forward mounting tang than the rearward mounting tang.
 22. The detachable fin assembly of claim 20, wherein the forward, central, and rearward mounting tangs substantially define an inverted U-shaped space.
 23. The detachable fin assembly of claim 20, wherein the mounting tang has forward and rearward detent recesses in forward and rearward edges, respectively, of the mounting tang.
 24. The detachable fin assembly of claim 23, wherein the forward and rearward detent recesses are vertically off-set relative to each other.
 25. The detachable fin assembly of claim 24, wherein the forward detent recess is at a lower position than the rearward detent recess.
 26. A mounting box for removably mounting a removable accessory, the mounting box comprising: a base block defining an elongate mounting channel to receive the removable accessory, the base block having facing sidewalls, a bottom surface, and nonstraight slots formed along the sidewalls of the base block; and a spring-biased detent assembly extending upwardly from the bottom surface of the base block.
 27. The mounting box of claim 26, further comprising at least one threaded aperture for receiving a detent assembly therein.
 28. The detachable fin assembly of claim 5, wherein the slots are substantially L-shaped.
 29. The detachable fin assembly of claim 1, wherein the fin box comprises a mounting rod positioned in the elongate mounting channel.
 30. The mounting box of claim 26, further comprising a mounting rod positioned in the elongate mounting channel.
 31. A box for removably mounting a fin, the fin box comprising: a base block defining an elongate mounting channel, the base block having facing sidewalls, a bottom surface, and nonstraight slots formed along the sidewalls of the base block; and a mounting insert receiver adapted to receive a spring-biased detent assembly such that, when the spring-biased detent assembly is attached to the mounting insert, the spring-biased detent assembly extends upwardly from the bottom surface of the base block.
 32. The box of claim 31, wherein the mounting insert receiver comprises a threaded aperture for receiving a threaded detent assembly therein. 